WTO Panel Decides Against U.S. in Meat-Labeling Dispute with Canada, Mexico – Sources

Nirmala Menon broke the news on Aug. 21 that the U.S. lost a key round at the World Trade Organization in a trade dispute over U.S. meat-labeling rules, citing several sources familiar with the findings contained in a confidential report issued by a WTO panel to the three governments. The ruling pushes the Nafta partners closer to a potential trade war, as Canada has threatened to impose retaliatory duties on a range of U.S. imports.

The story as it ran on Dow Jones:

August 21, 2014, 2:20PM EDT: WTO Panel Finding Expected To Be Made Public By Early October — Sources

2:20PM EDT: WTO Panel’s Finding Is In Confidential Report Sent To The 3 Governments – Sources

2:22PM EDT: WTO Panel Decides Against U.S. in Meat-Labeling Dispute with Canada, Mexico

By Nirmala Menon
OTTAWA–The U.S. has lost a key round at the World Trade Organization in a trade dispute with Canada and Mexico over meat labeling, according to people familiar with the WTO’s findings.

Canada and Mexico opposed a new U.S. rule that requires more information on labels about the origins of beef, pork and other meats, which went into effect in November. They took their case to the WTO, saying the rule hurts their competitiveness. The WTO panel that heard oral arguments in the dispute over the so-called country-of-origin labeling rule earlier this year has found in favor of Canada and Mexico, according to sources familiar with the panel’s confidential report.

The report, which the three governments have received, is expected to be made public in late September or early October, these sources said.

“We all know what the report says. The U.S. lost,” according to one person with knowledge of the report.

“We do for a fact know that the ruling, when it is made public, will be in favor of Canada and Mexico,” another source said.

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